Hundreds of schools close but exam rooms stay open

Hundreds of schools were closed today across London and the South-East but some managed to stay open to allow students to take vital GCSE and A-level modules.

In Barking and Dagenham, where 10 schools closed, Eastbury comprehensive stayed open for pupils taking ICT and psychology A-levels.

In Bromley, where 18 schools shut, Ravensbourne School opened for teenagers taking GCSE and AS-level geography modules and psychology A-level. Woolwich polytechnic in Greenwich also opened for GCSE and A-level students, despite 31 other schools in the borough closing for the day.

A spokesman for exams watchdog Ofqual said pupils who miss their modules today will have to resit them in the summer.

Schools in some parts of London were hit badly by the snow, with 60 schools in Barnet forced to close, while in Croydon 27 shut because of the weather.

But in Hackney just one secondary school closed, and the remaining 12 stayed open, while only two of the borough’s 54 primary schools closed.

A spokeswoman for Ark Academies said just one of its 12 schools shut today. A message on the website of Ark Oval school in Croydon said it closed because “the safety of our pupils and staff is paramount”.

David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “Councils up and down the country are working hard to help schools stay open wherever possible.

“Ultimately, headteachers, in consultation with school governors, make the final decision. Councils inform parents as soon as they can.”